Preschools could teach children not to litter

It would be wonderful to have preschool for all the kids here ("Plan offers preschool for all isle 4-year-olds," Star-Bulletin, Dec. 23). Perhaps we could cure the culture of litter, which is so mindlessly ingrained in this otherwise lovely place. They do not seem to learn at home that you just do not drop trash on the ground, leave it anywhere or toss it out of car windows.

Perhaps preschool could teach them how to pile bulky items neatly and at the proper times. The current situation is a disgrace to our "paradise in the Pacific."

Nancy Bey Little
Honolulu

We shouldn't put up with illegal fireworks

Fireworks laws in Hawaii aren't worth the paper they're written on. Professional-grade aerial fireworks go off in Ewa Beach nearly nightly year-round. Their illegal use significantly increases starting on Halloween. We are subjected to multiple illegal aerial fireworks daily, throughout the night and into the early morning hours.

In a recent study, Hawaii was determined to have the 10th-worst air quality in the nation. How can that be, sitting out in the middle of the Pacific with the renowned tradewinds? The ranking is based on one single event: fireworks use on New Year's Eve. The air quality is so bad on New Year's Eve that it averages out the rest of the year to rank as the 10th worst.

I don't have the knowledge or wherewithal to file a lawsuit against the state or City and County of Honolulu -- whoever is responsible for this negligent policy of allowing fireworks use by the general public. But if anyone out there does, sign me up. The noise, smoke and fire potential of all fireworks use is dangerous. Clearly, with the extended use of illegal aerial fireworks year-round, enforcement of any fireworks laws is nonexistent.

Mel McKeague
Ewa Beach

Streets chew up all but the hardiest vehicles

I do not drive a enormous, four-wheel-drive, gas-sucking truck or SUV, which apparently are the only vehicles approved by the City and County of Honolulu to navigate our roadways. Without such heavy-duty suspensions, oversize tires and high ground clearances, normal cars are mere fodder for Honolulu's pockmarked streets.

The first heavy rains of the season created more potholes than the Perseid meteor shower could have with a direct hit. Why is it that California's roads do not disintegrate after the same heavy rains, as they move east in the Pineapple Express? I believe the city is using inferior paving materials that melt away like the rice paper covering a Tomoe Ame candy. What other explanation is there? I watched as the road workers spread this mix of tar and gravel on these huge potholes along Kapiolani Boulevard the other day. The resultant mound of blacktop, unpacked by a roller, now created hundreds of loose projectiles that got kicked up by a vehicles' tires, right into nicely painted hoods or windshields of the cars behind. Of course if you have a mega-truck, it only bounced off the huge chrome grill.

Mr. Mayor, allow me the dignity to drive my standard car over properly prepared and paved streets. We all shoulder a tremendous amount of taxes for this right, and while you attempt to get this mess corrected, I can only hope that we all have the chance to grade the city's ability to stage a rail project that will cost 10,000 times what simple road maintenance costs. Can you make the grade?

William Holtzman
Kaimuki

If it says 'don't walk,' you should stay put

Two days ago, I was driving down Pensacola Street and slowed to turn left on Kinau Street. My light was green. I saw a tall, white-haired older man with a cane standing beside me on the corner. I came to a stop in case he was about to cross Kinau. We made brief eye contact, and I looked where he was looking -- at the pedestrian walk light across Kinau. It showed the red, "do not cross" hand signal. I checked to see that he was not moving and slowly initiated my turn.

As I slowly passed by him, he made some disparaging remarks to me, and I pointed to the sign with the red hand and said, "It's red. Don't walk." He grumbled some more, and as I drove up Kinau, I looked in my rearview and saw him slowly crossing the street with his cane's help. The light changed before he made it across.

I can only hope he reads this and changes his behavior. Otherwise, he is another pedestrian accident about to happen.

Peter Lee Cronburg
Honolulu

Autograph event was poorly handled

Once again, the University of Hawaii athletic department dropped the ball. This time it was the football team autograph session held on Saturday. Everything about the event was poorly handled. From fans lining up in the wee hours of the morning (though it was stated that no one could line up before 10 a.m.), to lack of organization once fans got onto the soccer field to get their favorite players (no signs or anyone directing people), to the extremely limited time (one hour) for anyone to get autographs, to people cutting in line, to the "hauling away" of players once the allotted time had passed.

Why let thousands of people wait for several hours and not even have the opportunity to get more than a handful of players' autographs? Even though many of the players were willing to stay longer to sign, they were pulled off the field after one hour by overzealous security guards in golf carts.

The university did more harm than good in having the autograph session, especially in the PR department. Even a caveman could have done a better job!

Randall Fong
Honolulu

White-out is great way to show Warrior pride

Kudos to coach June Jones and the University of Hawaii athletic department for encouraging a "white-out" for the Sugar Bowl (Star-Bulletin, Dec. 22). Many fans -- myself included -- were campaigning for a white-out game for various reasons. With Georgia fans wearing black, our dark green and green-on-black shirts would blend in, especially on television. White-out games really make a big impact, and we'll be matching our UH Warriors, who will be clad in white for the game. After all, UH's colors are green AND white.

Although I can sympathize with fans who already bought green attire, I know the decision to call for the white-out had nothing to do with a "marketing ploy." My group is going to wear our green shirts the other days we are in New Orleans, and white to the game, to show our Warrior pride all week long!

Mona K. Wood
Honolulu

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